Business coaching in Derry~Londonderry
Derry City and Strabane had the slowest business growth in Northern Ireland last year, and farming and construction are the largest groups. Coaching is one-to-one, fortnightly and ninety minutes at a time, in four areas: personal, leadership, business and financial.
Growth here was the slowest in Northern Ireland last year.
The council area added 15 businesses between 2025 and 2026, the smallest rise of any council. Owners in a flat market need tighter pricing, better margins and a clear view of cash.
Construction is a bigger share than across Northern Ireland.
Construction firms make up 16.2% of businesses here. Coaching for contractors starts with what each job earns and the cash between stage payments and supplier bills.
Farming is the largest group.
Agriculture, forestry and fishing is 23.3% of businesses. Farm and rural businesses need cash planning around seasons and grants, and a plan for succession.
Derry~Londonderry businesses in numbers
NISRA counted 5,785 VAT or PAYE registered businesses in Derry City and Strabane in March 2026. NISRA reports that the area saw the smallest growth of any council between 2025 and 2026, 0.3% or 15 businesses, although it grew by 955 (19.8%) between 2016 and 2026. 5,210 businesses employ fewer than ten people (90.1%) and 5,685 (98.3%) employ fewer than fifty. Agriculture, forestry and fishing is the largest group with 1,350 businesses (23.3%), followed by construction with 940 (16.2%) and retail with 450 (7.8%).
Source: NISRA, Northern Ireland Business: Activity, Size, Location and Ownership 2026, published 10 June 2026.
Business support in Derry~Londonderry
Enterprise North West at Skeoge Industrial Estate is the local enterprise agency listed by Enterprise NI, with Strabane Enterprise Agency also covering the council area. Derry City and Strabane District Council links to Go Succeed from its business support page. The Londonderry Chamber of Commerce on Bishop Street runs membership and events. Coaching is a paid, regular, one-to-one arrangement focused on the owner. UK coaching options compared sets out the routes side by side.
Where do sessions happen?
Sessions for Derry~Londonderry owners run by video, at a fixed fortnightly time. In-person sessions run by appointment at the Ballymena office, for example for the first two sessions. In person and online cost the same. Everything starts with a free discovery call, and the Performance on Purpose scorecard shows where you sit before it.
Frequently asked questions
Business growth here is slow. Is coaching worth it in a flat market?
A flat market is often where coaching earns its fee, because growth in turnover cannot be relied on to cover rising costs. The work concentrates on profit from the business you already have: prices that reflect the value of the work, margin by customer and product, overheads that are earning their place, and the owner’s time spent where it counts. Financial Coaching with Peter Allen sets out the numbers. The fees for every programme are published on the programmes page, so you can judge the cost before the call.
Do you work with businesses that trade across the border?
Yes. If your business buys from or sells to customers in Donegal and the rest of Ireland, the coaching covers the commercial side: pricing in two currencies, customer mix and the cash effect of slower cross-border payments. VAT and tax treatment of cross-border trade is a matter for your accountant. The coaching itself runs by video, so it works the same wherever the owner is.
Do you coach businesses elsewhere in Northern Ireland?
Yes, across the province, in person at the Ballymena office or by video. The Northern Ireland page covers coaching across the province, and there are separate pages for Belfast, Ballymena and Lisburn.
Book a free discovery call for your Derry~Londonderry business.
The call with Andy Jackson is free and lasts 30 minutes. You leave with your position on the Performance on Purpose quadrant, your money, time and mind scores, and your top three priorities in writing.